Natural Finish Beauty Trend

While flawless, blemish-free skin is arguably always in style, SS12s less-is-more approach is set to be a key beauty trend to trial this season. More pared-back and natural than in seasons past, whether you prefer a luminous look or like your skin to be marvellously matt, weve compiled our pick of the best bases, primers and light-reflecting concealers to help you get the natural finish beauty trend spot-on for spring.

Blumarine SS12 Backstage: Beauty

Beauty trends

Blumarine SS12 Backstage: Beauty

By Red OnlinePosted on March 28, 2012

How To Apply The Natural Finish Beauty Trend – SS12

At Blumarine’s spring summer 2012 show, make-up maestro Charlotte Tilbury faked a flawless finish by brushing MAC’s Face and Body Foundation over skin. A wash of gold eyeshadow was blended across lids and up towards brow bones casting a glow across skin.

Illuminating powder in a similar shade was dusted across cheekbones to sculpt and lightly set the base. Lips were muted and matt with a nude lip liner layered under lightly-blotted lip balm, seventies-style brows were natural and full.

Photo by Matt Lever

Chanel compact: Beauty

Beauty trends

Chanel compact: Beauty

By Red OnlinePosted on March 28, 2012

Following up on its super successful same-name fluid foundation, Chanel’s new Vitalumiere Aqua Compact is this season’s reworked offering and makes recreating Blumarine’s luminous skin foolproof.

Perfect skin draws attention to the eye area, so be sure to brighten and banish dark circles with Revlon’s budget eye primer.

Not only does the liquid provide the perfect surface for eye shadow to stick to, but the pink pigment reflects light to illuminate the whole eye area helping to eradicate dark circles.

Chloe SS12 Backstage: Beauty

Beauty trends

Chloe SS12 Backstage: Beauty

By Red OnlinePosted on March 28, 2012

On the Chloe catwalk, flawless skin stole the show. Beauty-boosting primer was painted over moisturiser, making the perfect base for a light liquid foundation to be applied with fingertips. Peachblusher contoured cheeks to provide a solitary hit of colour juxtaposing the lick of nudelipstick patted onto lips.

To augment the nearly-natural look, hair was roughly blow-dried and under-styled. Try adding a spritz of dry shampoo to freshly-washed locks for a similar effect.

Hello Flawless Foundation by Benefit: Beauty

Beauty trends

Hello Flawless Foundation by Benefit: Beauty

By Red OnlinePosted on March 28, 2012

Investing in a brightening base is crucial to nailing the natural finish beauty trend and Benefit’s new foundation is one of our favourite new season beauty buys.

At Red HQ we’re big fans of Liz Earle’s sheer skin tint, so it’s no surprise that the brand’s newly launched Light Reflecting Concealer has already made its way into our make-up bags. Designed to disguise shadows and flaws, it’s worth noting this is not a blemish concealer.

Instead, the creamy brush-on corrector should be used to diminish under-eye bags and disguise fine lines. Blending easily, it’s also very effective when painted around the sides of your nose to banish any redness for photo-ready skin.

DVF SS12 Backstage: Beauty

Beauty trends

DVF SS12 Backstage: Beauty

By Red OnlinePosted on March 28, 2012

Doll-like porcelain skin was the order of the day at Diane Von Furstenberg’s spring summer show as make-up artist James Kaliardos swept liquid foundation on with a brush for consistent coverage.

A coral matt blusher was worked across cheekbones to mimic a glow, while a dusting of ivory shadow was added to upper eyelids to lighten and brighten. Hair guru Orlanda Pita swept hair off the face, making a statement with textured, bouffant beehives.

Estee Lauder Foundation Brush: Beauty

Beauty trends

Estee Lauder Foundation Brush: Beauty

By Red OnlinePosted on March 28, 2012

For a flawless foundation finish, blending with a brush just can’t be beaten. The soft, natural bristles of Estee Lauder’s classic tools make them worth the premium price tag.

The super soft foundation brush allows you to seamlessly smooth a soft veil of colour over skin, or build up coverage to blur blemishes.

Illuminating Perfecting Primer by Estee Lauder: Beauty

Beauty trends

Illuminating Perfecting Primer by Estee Lauder: Beauty

By Red OnlinePosted on March 28, 2012

Packed full of light reflecting particles, Estee Lauder’s new illuminating primer is our pick of the best prep products for creating nearly-natural skin.

Applied over moisturiser, the silky cream sinks in quickly and shines through even the most pigmented of foundations to boost tired and worn complexions.

Valentino SS12 Backstage: Beauty

Beauty trends

Valentino SS12 Backstage: Beauty

By Red OnlinePosted on March 28, 2012

Valentino’s flawless face required far more products to achieve than first meets the eye. Moisturiser and primer were blended over skin before foundation was added. A light dusting of powder was used to mattify skin and keep the pristine base in place.

A peach powder blush was stroked across cheek apples for a pop of colour while lips were treated with a conditioning balm. Updos in the form of French plaits added dramatic effect to the otherwise natural look.

Photo by Matt Lever

L'Oreal Nude BB Cream: Beauty

Beauty trends

L'Oreal Nude BB Cream: Beauty

By Red OnlinePosted on March 28, 2012

From illuminating moisturiser, to BB creams and primers, nailing the natural skin beauty trend is largely down to prep work. L’Oreal’s budget beautyBB cream blends easily to mimic the texture and luminosity of nude skin, correcting blotchy skin tones and refining large pores in its wake.

Wear without foundation for fresh-faced summer skin, or layer under a foundation to prevent your base from budging. The added SPF helps protect skin too regardless of the weather.

Smashbox Photo Finish: Beauty

Beauty trends

Smashbox Photo Finish: Beauty

By Red OnlinePosted on March 28, 2012

Complexion perfection demands Smashbox’s Prime and Set Kit. The primer plumps and smooths skin to create the perfect blank canvas while the finely-milled powder sets your base perfectly and reflects light for a natural-looking finish that’s not at all mask-like.

Brows were full and thick, framing eyelids coated with a dusting of beige shadow and lashes layered with deep brown mascara. Lips were painted in pale shades and cheekbones lightly sculpted with a dusting of coral colour.

Photo by Matt Lever

Perricone no foundation foundation

Beauty trends

Perricone no foundation foundation

By Red OnlinePosted on March 28, 2012

If you prefer a minimalist make-up routine, Perricone MD’s No Foundation Foundation is a great beauty solution, delivering flawless skin in just one product. Massaging the oil-free liquid onto skin boosts luminosity while covering and concealing flaws.

The one-shade-suits-all sinks into skin in seconds to deliver translucent, radiant coverage - simply top up with concealer to cover any bold blemishes.

To re-create more SS12 beauty looks, check out the rest of our beauty trends galleries.

Enter your email address:
Please tick if you would prefer not to receive news & special offers from Hearst Magazines UK.
Please tick if you would prefer not to receive news & special offers from selected partners of Hearst Magazines UK